Technology mission critical functions and business continuity

Business Impact Analysis

The heart of any major business, beyond its human capital, is usually its technological resources and status. A business that relies on internet access and an arsenal of computer hardware and software must collect and harness the necessary knowledge, people and tools to manage this technology in an efficient yet effective way. Doing otherwise can expose trade secrets and customer data. Loss of productivity can also be exceedingly damaging.

Mission Critical Functions

As it relates to technology, there are three major functions that are mission critical. The first, and most important, is the network itself. If the network goes down, any networking and Internet functions will grind to a halt. Having such a happenstance drag on for a considerable amount of time can cause massive amounts of damage in terms of client deliverables not being provided and necessary administration work not getting done. It is true that not all tasks must be done right away but if something important is due today and the network is down and the completion of the assignment or task is internet-dependent, downtime can kill. In some cases, there are legal implications. If the network goes down on the day a tax filing is due and the business files online, this can lead to the business running afoul of the law.

The second mission critical networking function is part of the overall network but is separate managed. Also, if this function goes down, it does not necessarily mean the network is done, although it could. This function is email capabilities. Phone conversations and faxes can cover many tasks but being able to send documents or other secure correspondence quickly often requires email. If a Microsoft Exchange server crashes, it severely compromises the ability of employees to get work done and this has potential legal and financial implications.

The third mission critical function to mention is data storage. Since loss of data stored on hard drives can cause immeasurable damaged, there needs to be a significant amount of redundancy. If at all possible, data backups of all vital information need to be not only backed up, but backed up at an off-site location in case of a power outage, fire or flood (Walzer, 2009). Ensuring data access one hundred percent of the time is not always possible but that should always be the ultimate goal.

Acceptable Downtime

As intimated above, downtime when it comes to mission critical functions is something that should be avoided at all costs. Redundancies need to be in place to prevent downtimes. However, even the best-laid plans will fail and downtime will ensue. Downtime of half an hour or less can lead to minimal damage but alternatives should be put in place and put to use if necessary. Even if overall output is throttled, critical items can still be employed. If the network goes down, air cards can be used if necessary. If email goes down, a backup (but secure) system should be used. If a server farm that contains network drives goes down, the backup should still be accessible. A little proactive planning can be the difference between a semi-rough day at the job and outright calamity.